The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-12-29
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Just what TO give for Christmas gift, or
Tor that matter any time during the two
weeks after that constitute the gift-giving
time, 10 question TO the woman who really
wants to give pleasure. For my part have
always sympathized with the pretty little
woman whose purse was not very well filled
and who said II do wish my friends would
stop giving me sensible presents. It becomes
almost an impertinence." The people who
have TO buy absolute necessities for them
selves like the little luxuries to come in the
way Of presents, and think they are very
much more appreciated. The adherence Of
flannel petticoats, balmorals and boxes Of
stockings Is not to be overlooked. OF course
II is all right to give these things to the very
POOR, who cannot get them for themselves,
but TO offer them to the woman who has
provided herself with them, when she would
20 gladly have pretty bit of needle work of
silver or Of leather, picture or book, q
boz Of bonbons or an opera-glass, is really,
- my woman friend said, almost imperti-
nence.
This year presentgiving runs very much
In the silver line and there is really great
deal Of sense in this. Years ago-a great
many years ago-people who wanted silver
very properly went to the silversmith; then
for . while he became extinct and was
merged into the jeweler, but again, with the
introduction Of other good English customs,
we have the silversmith and go to the large
shops where only silver is sold. It is tho
apotheosis of silver. To see the most beau
tiful ones, one must naturally go to the
largest establishment, 30 in the search for
. present for . man who did not want a
book, an inkstand or a picture, but who
did drive, drifted into the Gorham Com
pany's beautiful place. and there found
an English driving whip, having silver
handle with etchings of fox race clev-
erly done upon it. Here was the long
sought-for something for the man. After
that made up my mind to look around and
see what the workers in silver offered to the
giver of gifts.
First of all, as extremely artistic and Ger
tainly very useful, are all sizes of spoons not
unlike the old apostle spoons; and yet they
have instead heads of celebrated artists or
writer's absolutely exact, the back represent
ing the back of the head and the shoulders
as perfectly as if they had been carved in
stone. Rubens, with his enormous hat on,
is especially affected. There are velasquez,
Shakespeare and Vandyke, all wonderfully
artistic. The proper way to do about spoons
is. If one cannot give an entire set, to make
up ones mind and give one, two or three, as
is easiest, for Christmas, Easter and birthday
until the whole set comes from the one
friend.
nt,n nsvSr~ so 81 If~v~c
coffee-cup, the fine porcelain Of which is en-
framed in silver. This comes in dainty
little case and as It costs go, it is likely that
only one will be sent. Full sets of oyster
forks have dainty floral and scroll handles,
and the sweetest Of coffee spoons have the
Russian enamel in their handles, 80 near
like that which costs such an immense sum
Of money that one is surprised to know how
II was done in this country.
For mankind there are TASKS of silver,
with roses in high relief upon them, giving
the recipient to understand that the contents
are sssb rosa match boxes, initiating cigar,
| that at easily IN the vest pocket; small,
square match-safes, with half-burnt match
in colors upon them, and also in colors is
the sentence etched, "These are not made in
Heaven" There are shaving cups, whisks
| with silver handles, hair brushes, of course
| and most elaborate shoe horns and buttoners.
For womankind there are offered the most
beautiful silver-framed hand-glasses that can
possibly be imagined. One has, on its back,
In rather high relief, perfect picture of
Venus as she came from the sea. The mir
rors are round, and oval and square, in
| oxidized and FURNISHED silver, in floral and
conventional patterns. One that ought to
reflect very bright and flashing eyes has its
| square frame outline with brilliant Rhine
stones. Puff boxes come to match these,
and few are shown in cameo glass with
silver-gilt covers. However, as few toilet
sets are In silver gilt, 1t Is wiser to give the
silver pieces, because one can never have
too many Of them. Pretty little pin trays
offer IN opportunity for filing them with
the small pearl-headed pins that are consid-
cred 10 smart for fastening the bride Of ones
bonnet. A novelty Il the flower watch made
Of silver and enameled; It 10 . chatelaine,
and the flower is . Marguerite with golden
heart. Bonbonnieres are many in number
and design, but the prettiest are those Of
burnished silver with . dainty flower pattern
eucircling them and q clasp that, while 1t il
secure. does mot click.
A box, not unlike bonbonniere, has In
its lid tiny looking glass and below very
| small puff that has the powder in it which
comes through perforations in chamois skin.
Pocketbooks, always suitable to receive,
especially II there is anything in them, are
no longer counted matter-of-fact presents
because they are made 90 elaborate. The
extremely long ones are not approved Of be-
cause they are pronounced. but happy
medium 10 chosen. They are In mauve, tan,
red, beige, gray, brown and black, the skins
Of the seal, monkey and pig being preferred.
Monkey and pig sound very plebeian, but It
may be- mentioned quite casually that one
could almost buy an entire pig for the price
Of properly framed pig-skin purse. The
corners are invariably Of silver, usually oxi-
died, occasionally burnished. The pattern
| u conventional.
| Avery magnificent Bible Ii Of brown seal
and silver ftamed-that IL, it, corners and
clasps are Of silver. It II supposed to be q
suitable present toa newly-married couple. A
blottsr case 4 Of yellow monkey skin, framed
IN silver, and has look and key, 70 that 10
productions Of the impressions cannot be
discovered In the mirror. Another blottins
case, wonderfully dainty, d Of pearl leather,